ABSTRACT
Partner violence aects more than 1 million people in the United States each year, and the familial, economic, and social consequences are signicant (Murray & Mobley, 2009; Rennison & Welchans, 2000). Current data suggest that partner violence occurs at similar or higher rates in lesbian and gay same-sex relationships than in heterosexual relationships (Balsam, 2001; Greenwood et al., 2002; Seelau, Seelau, & Poorman, 2003). In fact, partner violence is considered the third-largest problem facing gay men today aer substance abuse and AIDS, and some researchers estimate between 25% and 33% of same-sex couples experience partner violence (Peterman & Dixon, 2003; Wallace, 1996). Despite the fact that partner violence occurs at similar rates among all couples, same-sex couples are underrepresented in studies investigating the prevalence, incidence, and dynamics of partner violence (Peterman & Dixon, 2003; Stanley, Bartholomew, Taylor, Oram, & Landolt, 2006).
